Shot Training Harness And Method For Basketball Shot Training

ABSTRACT

The inventive concept disclosed is a basketball shot training harness for utilization in developing efficient mechanics of movement of a basketball player&#39;s shooting arm in a manner so as to instill a consistent, accurate trajectory for basketball shots. The shot training harness comprises firstly, a back brace, being a belt-like structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface. Other essential components of the harness include an adjusting belt, a plurality of waist adapters, a left chest strap, a right chest strap, a first back strap, a second back strap, an elastomeric resistance band removably attached to the back brace, a sleeve, and a flexion restrictor. A shooter dons and fastens the harness, inserts his/her shooting arm into the sleeve, and with repeated shot practice, develops proper mechanics and trajectory for shots.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

Basketball is a sport that is extremely popular worldwide. Dozens of countries have dedicated considerable expenditures in construction of facilities, organized leagues, and training of youth in the skills of this sport. One essential skill is training a new, or even seasoned, basketball player to hold his/her shooting arm in an efficient and accurate position relative to their upper body when shooting a basketball.

A basketball shot is a series of inter-connected physical motor movements that must be coordinated, and sequentially in unison in order to routinely shoot the basketball well. If any one of the shooter's movements is off, then destabilizing habits are developed and the chances of the basketball consistently going through the basketball hoop are decreased.

An objective of the disclosures herein is to emphasize that, when shooting, one of the biggest problems and most important aspect of a basketball shot is correct elbow positioning relative to the upper torso. The orientation at which the shooter's elbow is positioned when shooting a basketball, particularly when launching, a jump shot, immediately affects the direction and trajectory of the ball's flight path. Power generated by the shooter is also affected, as is the quickness of which the shooter can get the shot off.

(2) Description of the Related Art, including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

U.S. Pat. No. 8, 905,869, Grover: Dec. 9, 2014. The disclosure relates to a device for training proper finger spacing on a basketball ball at the time of releasing the ball. The basketball training devices provided herein maintain two adjacent fingers in comfortably spaced relation to enable the player to support and release the ball from those two fingers, thereby increasing the player's control of the ball and improving the accuracy of the basketball shot. A method for maintaining two adjacent fingers of a basketball player's hand in spaced and angled relation when shooting a basketball is provided. A method for making the training device is also provided.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,093, Sheppard; Nov. 11, 2003; A basketball shot trainer for controlling the movement of the user's shooting arm in a predetermined direction and predetermined elbow placement. The shooter's arm is connected to an arm bar such that the shooting arm and elbow pivot in a predetermined manner relative to the user's torso. The shooting arm is held in the desired position on the user by means of a back plate which supports the arm bar for pivotal movement to control movement of the user's shooting arm. The arm bar has a guide portion which is secured to the user's shooting arm by an arm band which controls movement of the shooting arm in a predetermined vertical plane.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,133, Wolf; Oct. 28, 2008; A shooting and training aid for basketball players to prevent interference of the non-shooting hand when shooting a basketball. This interference is caused by the non-shooting hand unnecessarily providing force for the shot as well as the fingers on the non-shooting hand dragging on the side of the ball. The shooting and training aid is provided with several adjustable members which ultimately would wind around the arms of the non-shooting hand include a loop attached to the base of the thumb of the non-shooting hand as well as a pocket member into which at least the tip of the middle finger of the non-shooting hand is inserted.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,522, Harvey; Feb. 6, 2007; Disclosed is a device used to train a basketball player to use the proper technique while performing a lay-up type basketball shot. The device attaches to the player's shooting arm and to the leg on the same side of the body as the shooting arm-which is the leg the player should raise to properly execute a lay-up. To use the device, the length of the connector strap is adjusted such that the device pulls on the player's leg when the player raises his arm in the shooting motion. When the device pulls on the player's leg, it reminds the player that he should raise that leg instead of the opposite leg.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,095.936, Kirkpatrick, et al; Aug. 1, 2000; A shot training harness for basketball players designed to keep the elbow of the shooting arm in towards the center line of the body during shooting. The shot training harness comprises a sleeve adapted to fit around the shooting arm of the basketball player; a clip adapted to be secured to clothing worn by the basketball player; and an elastic cord with two ends having one end attached to the sleeve and the other end attached to the clip, wherein the cord is of sufficient length to restrain the position of the player's shooting arm when the player shoots a basketball. In another embodiment, a belt adapted to be worn by the player can be used instead of the clip.

U.S. Published. Patent. Application #2015/0157914, Magstadt; Jun. 11, 2015; A training aid that attaches to a person's forearm to help correctly position the persons shooting arm when shooting a basketball. The training aid includes a block structure that can be removably secured to the person's forearm on their shooting arm adjacent to the crease of the person's elbow. The block structure is worn on the person's arm while shooting and is configured such that when the person brings their elbow up to shoot the basketball, the block structure contacts the person's bicep to prevent the forearm from going less than 90 degrees with the upper arm.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept disclosed is a basketball shot training harness comprising a basketball shot training harness 1, or “harness,” which helps develop efficient mechanics of positioning a basketball shooter's 8 shooting arm in, a manner so as to develop a consistent, accurate trajectory for basketball shots.

The shot training harness 1 comprises firstly, a back brace 2, being a belt-like device having an interior surface 3 and an exterior surface 4. Other essential components of the harness 1 include an adjusting belt 10, a plurality of waist adapters 12, a left chest strap 21, a right chest strap 22, a first back strap 23, a second back strap 24, an elastomeric resistance band 40 (which is removably attached to the back brace 2), a sleeve 30, and a flexion restrictor 35.

As a general description of the device and method, a basketball shooter 8 who utilizes the shot training harness 1 places his/her shooting arm through either a left or right harness openings 25, 26, and his/her other arm through the remaining harness opening 25, 26, then adjusts the tightness of the back brace 2 and adjusting belt 10. The shooter decides whether his/her left or right arm will be utilized as the shooting arm and next, places the shooting arm into the sleeve 30. The sleeve 30, in turn, is connected to the resistance band 40, which provides the main guiding force and mechanical parameters for the movement of the shooting arm during basketball shot attempts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY REPRESENTATIONS OF THE VIEWS OF THE DEVICE

FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior view of the back brace 2, a component of the shot training harness 1, showing orientation of the chest straps 21, 22, and back straps 23, 24 along with the adjusting belt 10 and the resistance band 40, which in use is attached to the interior surface 3 of the back brace 2.

FIG. 2 is a view of the sleeve 30 and flexion restrictor 35, which in actual use, is attached to the resistance band 40.

FIG. 3 presents a view of the interior surface 3 of the back brace 10, along with the position of attachment of the resistance band 40 and the sleeve 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a basketball shooter 8 in the act of releasing a basketball 9 with the assistance of the shot training harness 1, including the sleeve 30, release band 40, and the back brace 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling four figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use of the shot training harness 1. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures.

Among the instructions given to basketball shooters 8, one guideline is that the correct angle of the elbow 38 (forearm 37 relative to the upper arm 39) is 90 degrees, which in actual play, is the best angle to achieve a 45 degree angle of entry of the basketball 9 into the basket. Most importantly, it is also desired that the shooter 8 maintain his/her elbow in relatively close proximity to the upper body centerline to provide the best chance for generation of full shooting arm strength and the optimum arc/trajectory of the basketball 9 after it is released. The shot training harness 1 is designed to constantly impart muscle memory so that a shooter 8 repeatedly starts with the correct elbow 38 positioning when initiating each shot attempt.

The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated with FIG. 1, which illustrates an exterior view 4 of the back brace 2, a component of the shot training harness 1. The back brace 2 is a belt-like structure having a parallel-oriented adjusting belt 10. The adjusting belt 10 may be fabricated of an elastomeric material so as to have the capacity to stretch to correspond with the fastening tightness or looseness of the left end 13 and right end 14 of the back brace 2.

The shot training harness 1 features a plurality of symmetrically-spaced waist adaptors 12. The waist adaptors 12 are narrow connectors, being vertically-oriented fastening mechanisms spaced symmetrically along the length of the back brace 2. The waist adaptors 12 comprise lengthwise-oriented fasteners, such as hook-and-felt mechanisms, by which the waist adaptors 12 may be positioned or re-positioned to change their spacing relative to one another along the length of the back brace 2. In this manner, a basketball shooter 8 can adjust the length of the back brace 2, so as to arrive at internal circumferential dimensions matching the waist size of the basketball shooter 8.

Fastening mechanisms used in constructing the waist adaptors 12 may be snaps, matching crimps, zippers, magnets, non-permanent adhesives, clamps, dowels, and hook-and-felt mechanisms. However, these aforementioned types of fasteners are in no way meant as a limitation, but purely for exemplary purposes. The type of fastener utilized in any particular embodiment of the waist adaptors 12 will be selected so as to function compatibly with a mated fastener along the exterior surface 4 of the back brace 2.

A vertically-attached permanent seam 11 provides stability to the adjusting belt 10 as the waist adaptors 12 are moved laterally, from one fastening position to another. The back brace 2, once preliminary adjustments are made to the adjusting belt 10 and the waist adaptors 12 will be fastened upon itself near the abdomen of the shooter 8 by means of mutually corresponding fasteners on the brace left end 13 and the brace right end 14.

FIG 1, further illustrates orientation of a left chest strap 21 and a right chest strap 22, both of these chest straps being attached to the upper part of the back brace 2 by means of adjustable left and right connectors. As shown, the preferred embodiment features a left adjusting buckle 27 and a right adjusting buckle 28 used to control the length of both respective chest straps 21, 22. Also shown are a first back strap 23 and a second back strap 24. The first back strap 23 and second back strap 24 are fixedly attached to the upper edge of the back brace 2 by means of identical “first fasteners,” which in the preferred embodiment, comprise a left connector 43 and an identical right connector 44, respectively. It is noted that the first back strap 23, second back strap 24, left chest strap 21 and right chest strap 22 are joined together at a strap junction 20, which may be a type of shared fastening mechanism.

A basketball shooter 8, in order to use the shot training harness 1, must first position the interior surface 3 (not shown in FIG. 1) of the back brace 2 proximate one or the other of his/her shoulders. Assuming the left shoulder is selected to initiate donning of the shot training harness 1, the shooter 8 places the left arm through a left opening 25 formed between the left chest strap 21 and the first back strap 23. Next, the right arm must be placed through a right opening 26 formed between the second back strap 24 and the right chest strap 22. The shooter 8 then slides the entirety of the harness 1 downward or upward along his/her upper torso, as is comfortable.

For a particular shooter 8, the left chest strap 21 and the right chest strap 22 may require loosening or tightening in order to change the total available length of the left chest strap 21 and the right chest strap 22, respectively. The first back strap 23 and the second back strap 24 may or may not be adjustable, and the strap junction 20 will resultingly be positioned at some location between the shoulder blades of the basketball shooter 8, simultaneously touching the upper-to-mid-back area. The shooter 8, assumedly knowing whether his/her left or right arm will be utilized as the shooting arm, next dons the sleeve 30.

The shooter 8 places the shooting arm into the sleeve entry 31 and cuff 32, continuing the shooting arm on through the entirety of the sleeve 30 interior. This results in the shooter's 8 forearm 37, elbow 38, and upper arm 39 being encompassed in the sleeve 30. This arrangement is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may be equipped with a flexion restrictor 35 which serves the purpose of preventing over-extension of a shooter's forearm muscle during shot attempts.

The sleeve 30, in turn, is exteriorly connected to one end of an elastomeric resistance band 40 in the preferred embodiment. The resistance band 40 may or may not be adjustable. The other end of the resistance band 40 is removably latched to the interior surface 3 of the back brace 2 by means of at least one attached band receptor 5, 6. In the preferred embodiment there is provided a first band receptor 5 and a second band receptor 6 affixed to the leftward and rightward interior surface 3, respectively, of the back brace 2. Which latching, band receptor (5 or 6) is utilized by the shooter 8 to attach the resistance band is, of course, dependent on whether the shooter 8 is left-handed or right-handed.

The band receptors 5, 6 may utilize latching mechanisms such as snaps, crimps, zippers, magnets, non-permanent adhesives, clamps, dowels, and hook-and-felt mechanisms. Correspondingly, the corresponding latching end of the resistance band 40 will be selected so as to be precisely compatible with either band receptor 5, 6. The aforementioned types of latching, mechanisms are in no way cited as a limitation, but purely for exemplary purposes.

The foregoing description of possible latching connections is more readily depicted in FIG. 3, which shows the interior surface 3 of the back brace 2. The resistance band 40 is shown latched to the second band receptor 6 (shown by dashed lines outline). The resistance band 40 provides (a) the main guiding force and (b) lateral mechanical parameters for training muscle memory for movement of the shooter's 8 arm while attempting basketball 9 shots. FIG. 3 is an upside-down rendering of the shot training harness 1, and the back brace 2, as would be seen should the harness 1 shown in FIG l be rotated one hundred eighty degrees outward the reader.

FIG. 3 further displays, for exemplary purposes only, the left-most end of the interior surface 3 of a back brace 2 wherein a necessary correlated back brace 2 fastening mechanism comprises the felt component 16 of a hook-and-felt fastening system (shown in FIG. 3). Correspondingly, the right-most end of the exterior surface 4 (not shown) of the illustrated back brace 2, again for exemplary purposes only, may consist of the hook component 15 of a hook-and-felt fastening system. This hook component 15 material is shown in FIG 1.

Therefore, when a basketball shooter 8 dons the harness 1 and makes the necessary adjustments, the felt component 16 of the back brace 2 leftmost interior surface 3, (viewable in FIG. 3) as it is positioned proximate the shooter's 8 waist, readily comes in physical contact with the hook component 15 of the back brace 2 rightmost exterior surface 4. This results in providing a securely fastened back brace 2.

In viewing FIG. 4, there is shown a view of a basketball shooter 8 in the imminent act of releasing a basketball 9 on a shot attempt. Depicted in FIG. 4 is the harness 1 and its back brace 2 and adjusting belt 10. Further shown is the left chest strap 21 and right chest strap 22, both of these chest straps being attached at the strap junction 20. The first back strap 23 and second back strap 24 are also shown, extending from their connections to the left connector 43 and right connector 44, respectively.

In FIG. 4, the shooter 8, being right-handed, is shown with an approximately 90 degree orientation of his forearm 37 to his upper arm 39. The elastomeric resistance band 40, being attached to the sleeve upper 33 and the second band receptor 6 (not in view) of the interior surface 3 of the back brace 2, is functioning to maintain the shooter's elbow 38 fairly close to his/her upper torso in the positioning of his shooting arm.

While preferred embodiments of the present inventive method have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, as described by the scope of the claims presented herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A basketball shot training harness comprising: (a) a back brace comprising a belt-like structure, having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a left end and a right end; (b) an adjusting belt; (c) a plurality of waist adapters: (d) a left chest strap; (e) a right chest strap; (f) a first back strap; (g) a second back strap; (h) an elastomeric resistance band, and (i) a sleeve.
 2. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 1, further comprising, two adjusting buckles, one each utilized to connect the left chest strap and the right chest strap, respectively, to the back brace.
 3. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 1, further comprising a first receptor and a second receptor for alternative location of the attachment of the resistance band to the back brace.
 4. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 1, further comprising waist adaptors having hook-and-felt fastening mechanisms.
 5. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 1, further comprising a flexion restrictor affixed to the sleeve.
 6. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 1, further comprising a strap junction connecting the left and right chest straps and the first and second back straps at a common location.
 7. A basketball shot training harness comprising a back brace being a belt-like structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, an adjusting belt, a plurality of waist adapters, a left chest strap, a right chest strap, a first back strap, a second back strap, an elastomeric resistance band, a sleeve, and a flexion restrictor; wherein (a) the left chest strap and right chest strap, are connected at one end of each strap, to the back brace by means of an adjustable left connector and an adjustable right connector, respectively, and both straps are mutually connected at the opposite end of each, to a strap junction by means of a shared fastening mechanism; (b) the first back strap and second back strap are symmetrically connected at one end of each strap, to the back brace by means of a first fastener, and are mutually connected at the opposite end of each strap, to a strap junction by means of a shared fastening mechanism; (c) the left and right ends of the back brace are removably attached to each other by means of correlated, corresponding fastening mechanisms on opposite end-most surfaces of the back brace; and (d) the resistance band is removably attached at one end to the interior surface of the back brace by means of at least one adjustable band receptor pairing and connected at its opposite end to the sleeve by means of a sleeve fastener.
 8. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 7, further comprising two adjusting buckles, one each utilized to connect the left chest strap and the right chest strap, respectively, to the back brace.
 9. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 7, further comprising a first receptor and a second receptor for alternative location of the attachment of the resistance band to the back brace.
 10. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 7, further comprising waist adaptors having hook-and-felt fastening mechanisms.
 11. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 7, further comprising a flexion restrictor affixed to the sleeve.
 12. A basketball shot training harness as in claim 7, further comprising a strap junction connecting the left and right chest straps and the first and second back straps at a common location.
 13. A method for training a basketball player to develop more efficient upper body mechanics and a more consistent trajectory for a basketball when said basketball is released by the shooter on a shot attempt towards a basketball goal, the method comprising the following steps: (a) providing a shot harness mechanism comprising a back brace, further comprising a belt-like device having an exterior surface and an interior surface, an adjusting belt, a plurality of waist adapters, a left chest strap, a right chest strap, a first back strap, a second back strap, a left opening formed by the left chest strap and first back strap, a right opening formed by the right chest strap and second back strap, an elastomeric resistance band, and a sleeve; (b) placing the left arm and the right arm of the basketball player into the left opening and right opening, respectively, of the shot harness mechanism; (c) adjusting the waist adapters to conform to the waist dimension of the basketball player; (d) securing the adjusting belt and back brace of the shot harness mechanism about the waist of the basketball player; (e) placing either the left forearm and elbow, or the right forearm and elbow of the basketball player into the sleeve; (e) while a shot is actuated, simultaneously allowing the shot harness mechanism resistance band to provide an amount of tension, serving to maintain the basketball player's shooting elbow at an optimal distance from the basketball player's upper torso.
 14. The method for training a basketball player as in claim 13, wherein the shot harness further comprises two adjusting buckles, one each utilized to connect the left chest strap and the right chest strap, respectively, to the back brace.
 15. The method for training a basketball player as in claim 13, wherein the shot harness further comprises a first receptor and a second receptor for alternative location of the attachment of the resistance band to the back brace.
 16. The method for training a basketball player as in claim 13, wherein the shot harness further comprises waist adaptors having hook-and-felt fastening mechanisms.
 17. The method for training a basketball player as in claim 13, wherein the shot harness further comprises a flexion restrictor affixed to the sleeve.
 18. The method for training a basketball player as in claim 13, wherein the shot harness further comprises a strap junction connecting the left and right chest straps and the first and second back straps at a common location. 